It was such an honor for my daughter and myself to attend this wonderful event. What a great way to end the trip to DC. To see the President and the other leaders console the families that have lost a loved one in the War on Terror cannot be put into words. The strength and resolve of the families has to be the most telling and moving thing I have ever experienced. The Troops and their Families are truly the best America has to offer.
God Bless our Troops and their Families!
Robert...
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
5:29 PM
NO 'NIGHTMARE' - WHY 'SURGE' IS WORKING
By PETE HEGSETH
October 23, 2007 -- THE former top commander in Iraq - Army Lt.-Gen. Ricardo Sanchez (ret.) - recently called the situation in Iraq "a nightmare with no end in sight." Citing insufficient prewar planning and a strained military, he painted a dismal picture of American prospects there.
War critics painted a similar picture when violence in Iraq peaked in '05 and '06 - using terms like "civil war" and "sectarian violence" - as they pushed for a rapid draw-down or immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces. An Iraq "at war with itself" shouldn't be America's problem, they argued. In fact, the existence of a "religious civil war" remains the chief antiwar talking point to this day.
Problem is, the new U.S. strategy has changed the facts on the grounds.
A year ago, the assertions of Sanchez and the antiwar critics were an accurate description of the violence throughout Iraq: Armed death squads freely roamed the streets in Baghdad and outlying areas, responding to massive bombings committed by al Qaeda. And vice versa. Each week saw hundreds of innocent Iraqis - the victims of sectarian attacks and reprisals - kidnapped and killed. Worst of all, compromised members of the security forces (Iraqis in uniform) were complicit in many killings.
I was in Samarra on Feb. 22, 2005, the day al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents destroyed the dome of the Golden Mosque, and am very familiar with the violence that followed. That event was a catalyst for widespread violence in Iraq. Destroying a Muslim place of worship was indicative of al Qaeda's overall strategy: foment violence, maintain instability, and intimidate the local population. And it worked.
The critics had a point: American soldiers were simply caught in the middle - not permitted to take action to stop the violence, and yet still very much in harm's way. But what the critics failed to see was that it didn't have to be that way - that what the troops lacked was an adaptive strategy that recognized and addressed underlying causes of the violence.
Enter Gen. David Petraeus and a strategy that did just that. (The term "surge" is far too simplistic, as it implies simply throwing more forces at the problem, when Petraeus' changes in tactics are even more important).
The new counterinsurgency approach - namely, to take territory from al Qaeda, hold it, secure it and empower tribal sheiks to work together and rebuild their communities - finally provides an effective "counteroffensive" to the chief tactics of al Qaeda militants and Shiite death squads.
America's enemies in Iraq, radical insurgents living and fighting among the general public, understand that they can't continue their fight without capitulation from ordinary Iraqis. Finally, after almost four years, the U.S. military understands this as well.
Whereas we used to emphasize overwhelming firepower (even when I was there in 2006), we now emphasize firepower as a last resort. Whereas we used to rush to the scene after the violence occurs, we're now there to repel it or deter it altogether.
This commitment - up and down the chain of command - has made a major impact on the tit-for-tat death toll that was threatening to tear the country apart. Sectarian violence has been severely curtailed.
Since last December, sectarian deaths throughout Iraq have dropped over 50 percent; overall attacks against civilians are down 50 percent. In Baghdad - the focal point of Petraeus' strategy - sectarian deaths are down almost 80 percent in 10 months and large al Qaeda-style truck and suicide bombings have dropped over 50 percent.
Moreover, ordinary Iraqis are providing far more tips and other information. We now get some 23,000 tips a month, four to five times the level of a year before. This measure - which directly correlates to the trust and support of the population - is promising.
These are significant and consequential numbers and indicate real successes in stomping out the civil war. But it's not just numbers that make the case that the civil war is ending. Look, too, at what the new strategy lets commanders do in their now-daily discussions with ordinary Iraqis.
Petraeus reports that foreign (non-Iraqi) recruits conduct over 80 percent of al Qaeda's attacks; and therefore, by refocusing local tribal leaders on this fact, American commanders are making a convincing argument to the sheiks: Why launch an indiscriminate reprisal against another sect, ratcheting up the level of violence, when you can simply tell us and Iraqi security forces where the foreign insurgents are and we'll go get them? The numbers say that's exactly what's happening.
A people drowning in sectarian violence and warped by perpetual vengeance aren't going to immediately engage in political reconciliation. Security improvements must first dampen the violence, lower tensions and restore humanity. This is exactly what Petraeus has done, and we have finally begun providing the tangible security improvements necessary for lasting political solutions at the local and national levels.
Although many hope to convince America otherwise, the Iraq war has fundamentally changed in '07. It's not a civil war anymore. It's the people of Iraq vs. al Qaeda and Iranian proxies, with the U.S.-led Coalition helping the Iraqi people swing their sword of sovereignty.
That's the kind of good news that people on both sides of the aisle should appreciate.
Pete Hegseth, a first lieutenant in the Army National Guard, is executive director of Vets for Freedom. He served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division from September '05 to July '06.
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
8:48 PM
United for a Strong America
Washington, DC September 16 - 19, 2007
On September 16, 512 patriotic family members from across the United States met in Washington D.C. Strangers instantly became friends at the Meet & Greet at the top of the Sheraton where we overlooked the DC skyline! New friends were enjoying great discussions as I was asked to get their attention. A friend suggested he could make it happen but didn't have a plan I said "I've got this one!". With microphone in hand, I was ignored as I asked for their attention, but I knew what would get their attention. I started to sing "God Bless America" By the end of the first line everyone was singing! It was the perfect way to begin our 3 days. I'm going to give the bare highlights here but at the end of this newsletter, you'll find pictures and bits of stories from everyone!
CLICK HERE to read the Families United newsletter in full.
I want to thank Families United for inviting my family to attend the DC event. It is something we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives. More pics
from the trip will be posted soon.
Robert N...
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
10:31 PM
OCTOBER 17th, 12:00 Noon
On Wednesday We Hold a Patriotic Response to This Disgrace:
CALL TO ACTION: Code Pink has vandalized the Marine Recruiting Center in Berkeley, California and is harrassing the landlord to cancel the lease for the 'illegal, immoral, unjust' war machine--calling our military men and women 'TRAITORS.'
We will rally to support our troops and denounce efforts by Code Pink and others to 'chase' the military out of Northern California. We make our stand at the Marine Recruiting Center in Berkeley which has just been defaced by anti-war protestors.
We are calling on YOU the patriotic mainstream of this nation to join with us and counter their effort with a pro-troop show of support for our military men and women!
Bring your American flags and signs supporting our troops and our veterans!WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH - 12:00 NOON PACIFICUnited States Marine Corps RecruitingCenter
64 Shattuck Square
Berkeley, CA 94704
Located at Shattuck Square (Intersection of University Avenue and Shattuck)
Berkeley, California -
MAP HEREThere is a BART station/bus station about 2 blocks away. We will post a map of parking, public transportation stops, etc... in the next day.
Word of this upcoming event is spreading:
* Gathering of Eagles Onboard -
HERE* Human Events Report -
HERE* Newsblaze Report -
HERE* Wake Up America Blog -
HERE* Family Security Matters -
HERE* Winter's Soldiers Story -
HERE* Michelle Malkin Driving Patriotic Response -
HERE* Free Republic Thread -
HERE* WorldNetDaily Report -
HERE* Debbi's Dribble -
HERE* KSFO Radio -
HERELet's have a great showing by bringing out hundreds of patriotic Americans with American flags who will stand in solidarity with our brave and noble military men and women. We cannot sit back and let protestors like those above silence our troops or harass our military. It is the men and women in uniform who have served this nation that give those Code Pink protestors the rights they have to assemble and speak freely. They do not even realize that they are attacking that which gives them freedom, security and liberty.
We will speak out on behalf of our troops and our veterans, and with your support on October 17th we can show America that we will never allow our military to be defamed and dishonored ever again. That sort of thing regrettably happened in the 1960's, but we know better, and we won't let it happen again!
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
3:26 PM
Wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Followed by a heartfelt speech from Gen. Peter Pace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
5:15 AM
Here are some pictures from the Sept. 15th GOE/MAF event in DC.
Of course the media cameras are focused on the moonbats! It was an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with so many great patriots.
posted by Operation America Rising, Inc. #
4:34 AM
